Adjustable shackle key holder

ABSTRACT

The present key holder simulates a padlock and is characterized by a double-ended shackle on which a case is mounted intermediate the ends of the shackle for relative reciprocal movements, with one side leg of the shackle being split. Each end of the shackle projects beyond its respective end of the case. The shackle ends are adjustable relative thereto to expose the leg split for one or the other shackle ends for respective key loading thereof. A certain reciprocal movement of the shackle relative to the case will locate and secure the leg split within the case to confine keys, of several classes if desired, on the shackle ends which were so loaded.

United States Patent [191 Foote ADJUSTABLE SHACKLE KEY HOLDER [75]Inventor: Daniel J. Foote, Wauwatosa, Wis.

[73] Assignee: Master Lock Company, Milwaukee,

Wis.

[22] Filed: July 22, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 165,172

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1970 Ryder ..70/459 3/1945Ohmo ..70/52X Primary ExaminerRobert L. Wolfe Att0mey-Curtis B. Morsell,Sr.

[57] ABSTRACT The present key holder simulates a padlock and ischaracterized by a double-ended shackle on which a case is mountedintermediate the ends of the shackle for relative reciprocal movements,with one side leg of the shackle being split. Each end of the shackleprojects beyond its respective end of the case. The shackle ends areadjustable relative thereto to expose the leg split for one or the othershackle ends for respective key loading thereof. A certain reciprocalmovement of the shackle relative to the case will locate and secure theleg split within the case to confine keys, of several classes ifdesired, on the shackle ends which were so loaded.

4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUN 5 I973 3,736,781

INVENTOR DANIEL J. FOOTE @zz lfimmum, JL

AT 'IORNE. Y

ADJUSTABLE SHACKLE KEY HOLDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventionalkey rings and key chains hold an indiscriminate collection of keys in adisordered array. It is inconvenient to separate or remove selectedkeys. The key holder of the present invention eliminates theseobjections by providing a key holder having a pair of separated keyholding elements, either of which may be manually adjusted from aclosed, key retaining position to an open position wherein keys may beengaged or removed. Also, each key holding element may carry specialclasses of keys rendering the same convenient for selection and use, orremoval. The latter is especially desirable when availability ofautomobile keys or the like is to be eliminated in respect to someonehaving access to the key holder.

Applicant is not aware of any prior art pertaining to a key holder whichsimulates a padlock and which includes a double-ended shackleintermediately and relatively adjustably carrying a case or body in amanner so that both ends of the shackle form separate carriers orholders for difi'erent classes or groups of keys.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A general object of the invention is to providea key holder which includes a pair of separated key holding elementswhich are adjustable to permit removal of keys thereon, or keyretention.

A further object of the invention is to provide a padlock simulating keyholder which can be used as a novelty advertising item by padlockmanufacturers and retailers.

Additional objects of the invention are to provide an adjustable shacklekey holder which is simple in design and construction, easy tomanipulate and adjust, which possesses a unique appearance, which isstrong and durable and inexpensive, and which is otherwise well adaptedfor its intended purposes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing wherein the samereference characters indicate the same or similar parts in all of theviews:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved key holder with both endsof the shackle retracted into the case or body to form a pair ofseparated closed key holding elements;

FIG. 2 is a front or face view of the closed key holder with part brokenaway and in section;

FIG. 3 is a sideview of this key holder showing one end of the shackleprojected for key loading or key removal purposes;

FIG. 4 is a similar view showing the other end of the shackle projectedfor key loading or key removal purposes;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 2; and IFIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularly tothe drawings, it will appear that the case or body portion of theimproved key holder is designated generally by the numetal 10. The case10 may be of laminated construction, as illustrated, with thelaminations being held together in super-imposed relation by rivets 11,to simulate the laminated body of a popular form of padlock. Or, withinthe contemplation of the present invention the case 10 may be die castin relatively solid formation, and it may be of metal or plastic, or thelike. In any event, the body is formed with an internal cavity 12 whichis closed at the opposite ends of the case by end plates 13 and 14.Plate 13 is formed with spaced-apart reduced openings 15 and 16 thereinwhich aline with spaced-apart openings 17 and 18 in plate 141. Theopenings 15, 16, and 17 are of a size to snugly receive the legs of adouble ended shackle indicated generally by the numeral 19 and whichwill be described more fully hereinafter. It should be noted, however,that the body cavity 12 and the plate apertures 15, 16, 17, and 18accommodate the rectilinear portion of the unbroken leg 20 of theshackle and the opposite leg arms 21 and 22 of the shackle which areinterrupted by a gap 23 and form a broken shackle leg. Thus, there maybe relative reciprocatory movements between the case 10 and the shacklelegs which extend through the former. The aperture 18 in the plate 14 isslightly larger than the diameter of the shackle leg arm 22. The latteris yieldable so that it may be manually flexed laterally to engage ordisengage in certain positions of the shackle, a recess 24 in the legarm 22 relative to a protruding lip or flange 25 on the plate 14projecting into said plate aperture 18, whereby the shackle is securedin the position of FIGS. 1 and 2 for retention of various keys on theopposed key holding elements.

With further reference to the double-ended shackle 19 it will beobserved that it is shaped as clearly shown in the drawing. One set ofends of the unbroken leg 20 and the arm 21 are joined by a curved extentto provide a reduced size key holding element 26, preferably for holdingone or two, or a limited number of keys of a special class, asautomobile keys. The other set of ends of the leg 20 and the arm 22 ofthe broken shackle leg are joined by an outwardly flared extent to forma key holding element 27 of somewhat larger size than the key holdingelement 26, to preferably hold a larger group of keys. By manuallyflexing the extremity of the leg arm 22 when it is in the position ofFIGS. 1 and 2 the arm recess 24 may be disengaged from the flange 25,permitting relative sliding movement as between the shackle legs and thecase 10 to attain either the position of FIG. 3 which exposes the brokenleg gap 23 for loading or unloading keys relative to the key holdingelement 27; or, a relative reciprocation in the reverse directionproduces the condition shown in FIG. 4 exposing the broken leg gap 23beyond the opposite end of the case 10 for removing keys from orsecuring keys onto the key holding element 26. From the open position ofeither key holding element a simple reciprocation will produce thecondition of FIG. 2 wherein both key holding elements are closed and theflange 25 snaps into the arm recess 24 to retain the key holder in itsclosed condition, as to both of the key holding elements.

The adjustable shackle key holder simulates a padlock with thesimulation being enhanced by the provision of a sham or dummy key slot28 on the base plate of the case 10. The key holder provides a pair ofseparated key holding elements both of which may be used for holdingseparated groups or classes of keys, with the key holding elements beingreciprocal from closed condition to independent open positions for theremoval or loading of keys. The key holder is simple to manufacture andmanipulate, is inexpensive, provides a unique appearing novelty, and iswell adapted for the purposes described. i

What is claimed is:

1. A key holder comprising: a body with an internal cavity with platesat the opposite ends of the body closing said cavity, said plates havingshackle leg openings therein registering with the body cavity, and adoubleended shackle of greater length than the body and having legsextendable through said plate openings into the body cavity so that thebody is mounted on said legs for relative reciprocal movements, theopposite ends of the shackle being closed to provide separate keyholding portions at opposite exterior ends of the body, the closure forone end of the shackle being outwardly flared and enlarged to provide akey holding portion of greater size than that at the opposite end of theshackle,

one of the shackle legs being split to provide a gap positionable eitherinteriorally of the body or exteriorally of either end thereof,depending on the position of re ciprocation of the shackle relative tothe body, for selective key loading or removal relative to said keyhold- 3. The key holder recited in claim 2 wherein said leg end portioncooperating means is associated with a leg which is a part of theenlarged key holding portion.

4. The key holder recited in claim 1 wherein the body is laminated andthe plate at one end of the body is formed with a key slot simulation.

1. A key holder comprising: a body with an internal cavity with platesat the opposite ends of the body closing said cavity, said plates havingshackle leg openings therein registering with the body cavity, and Adouble-ended shackle of greater length than the body and having legsextendable through said plate openings into the body cavity so that thebody is mounted on said legs for relative reciprocal movements, theopposite ends of the shackle being closed to provide separate keyholding portions at opposite exterior ends of the body, the closure forone end of the shackle being outwardly flared and enlarged to provide akey holding portion of greater size than that at the opposite end of theshackle, one of the shackle legs being split to provide a gappositionable either interiorally of the body or exteriorally of eitherend thereof, depending on the position of reciprocation of the shacklerelative to the body, for selective key loading or removal relative tosaid key holding portions.
 2. The key holder recited in claim 1 whereinthere are cooperating means between an apertured end portion of the bodyand a leg end portion adjacent the split for manually releasably holdingthe shackle in one position relative to the body.
 3. The key holderrecited in claim 2 wherein said leg end portion cooperating means isassociated with a leg which is a part of the enlarged key holdingportion.
 4. The key holder recited in claim 1 wherein the body islaminated and the plate at one end of the body is formed with a key slotsimulation.